Three-term Democratic New York U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has won re-election, easily fending off a challenge from a little-known and poorly funded Republican New York City lawyer.
Schumer is in line to succeed retiring Nevada Sen. Harry Reid as leader of Senate Democrats next year. With Tuesday's victory he's poised to become majority leader if Democrats retake the Senate.
Schumer was first elected to Congress in 1980 and hasn't faced a serious challenge in the heavily Democratic state since defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Alfonse D'Amato in 1998.
This year he faced Wendy Long, who linked herself to presidential candidate Donald Trump and his policy proposals in her second Senate run.
In 2012, Long challenged Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (KEER'-sten JIHL'-uh-brand) as Gillibrand sought her first full term; Gillibrand won easily.
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